COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTIONA truly unique beer combining the best brewing traditions of Belgium with the natural goodness of manuka leaves, fresh picked from the native forests of New Zealand.
When Cpt. James Cook first landed in New Zealand over 200 years ago, he brewed a beer using the leaves of the manuka tree in a quest to protect the health of his crew from vitamin C deficiency.
Little did he know that the indigenous Maori people had been using manuka for centuries for its health giving properties.
In 1996 the Mussel Inn refined Cook’s original recipe and has since been harvesting fresh manuka from the surrounding hills to produce a beer of unique flavour and quality.
Today, the same beer is being brewed in Belgium using the best of its brewing techniques and the same manuka leaves from New Zealand.Brewed @ De Proef
New edition 2012 brewed @ De Graal for Belgian Beer Brewing Co.

(Captain Cooker) Stubby bottle 330 ml at home, served into a shaker. ABV 5.7%
I got this for 25 cents, it’s seven years past its BBD to be completely honest. It opens with a slight psshh, carbonation still present. Pours an amber coloured beer with a decent sized tan light beige head, with pretty good retention too.
Aroma of port wine, herbal notes. I don’t know if it’s those manuka leaves or a result of time.
Taste has also lots of herbal notes, no sign of oxidation. Some vinous notes, juniper berries.
Medium thin body, good carbonation, light dryness on the palate.
Not bad at all. I may return to get more of those bottles.

Specialty ale with manuka leaves which James Cook allegedly used as a medicine for his men, brewed under license of The Mussell Inn, a New Zealand pub, which apparently invented the brand. Yellowish beige head, deep amber colour with copper hue, flowery and herbal aroma, I have no idea what manuka smells like but I suppose this is it, hints of lavender, mango, tea, pineapple, hazelnuts; taste has again the exotic touch of fruit and flowers, hint of tea which should be that manuka, nutty and caramelly malts, dryish spicy notes of pepper and ginger, finishing mildly bitter. I am not the greatest fan of exotic ingredients in beer and this is not my cup of tea - or manuka, if you will.

Backlog: bottle@ZBF, 27/04/2013. In the Belgoo Lupoo category of pillowy perfumed beers, bordering on air freshener - this can at times actually cater to a need and did as my first airy entry at the ZBF. Feathery yeast, citrus zest hops, biscuit malts, leaving a slightly artificial palate. Weird surprise.

pours a clear amber beer that is lightly saturated. Has a big white foamy head.
Smells like soap to be honest. I am trying to find something different in the aroma but it has this really dominant soap smell. I can smell a little bit of sulfur.
Tastes bitter but not very nice. I can’t say the taste is balanced or pleasant. The same goes for the palate. It kinda tastes like it smells. Maybe if you are a fan of soap this beer is worth picking up.

Aroma and flavour are floral, medicinal, herbal and soapy with a hint of hair removal cream. Rather unpleasant. I read that parakeets eat this manuka plant to rid themselves of parasites. My kitchen sink is now free of parasites...

Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community.
Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings.
Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!